Latch releasing door handle



March 8, 1955 s. v. JAKEWAY LATCH RELEASING DOOR HANDLE Filed April 15,1952 INVENTOR. 62/4/0 M c/dkll/dy BY 2 ATTORNEK United States PatentLATCH RELEASING DOOR HANDLE Gerald V. Jakeway, Grand Rapids, Mich.,assignor to Keeler Brass Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application April 15, 1952, Serial No. 282,445

14 Claims. (Cl. 292-3363) This invention relates to improvement in latchreleasing door handles.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a door handle of the push button type which is easy tooperate and one in which the finger piece is positioned so that it isprotected by the grip or handle member.

Second, to provide a door handle having few parts and these parts arerelatively rugged and easily assembled.

Third, to provide a door handle having these advantages which is veryeconomically produced and at the same time is attractive in appearance.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view of a door handle embodying my inventioninstalled upon a door, the handle being shown mainly in longitudinalsection, parts of the door and an associated latch mechanism beingconventionally illustrated.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view with parts shown inlongitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in section to correspond with Fig. 1 andwith the parts in actuated position.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on a line corresponding to line 4-4 ofFig. 1.

Fig. is a cross sectional view on a line corresponding to line 5--5 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bracket member of my door handle.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents the panel of a metallic doorand 2 an edge wall thereof with which the latch mechanism designatedgenerally by the numeral 3 is associated and 4 represents an actuatedmember of the latch.

My handle assembly in the embodiment illustrated comprises a supportingplate 5 mounted on the inner side of the door panel 1 and having frontand rear openings 6 and 7 therein. At its forward end the plate isprovided with a wing or lug 8 to receive the attaching screw 9. Thehandle member of the embodiment illustrated comprises a body member 10of inwardly facing channel section and generally bowed to provide a gripintermediate its ends. The back plate 11 has inwardly olfset flanges 12which are disposed on the inner edges of the side flanges of the bodymember and secured thereon by means of the sheath 13 which embraces thebody member and has inturned flanges 14 clampingly retaining the backmember 11. The bracket member designated generally by the numeral 44 hasa cupped body portion 15 disposed in the opening 6 of the supportingplate, the front wall of the cupped portion having a flanged threadedopening 16 therein for the screw 9.

At its inner end the web of the handle member is conformed to provide arecess 17 receiving the inner end of the lug. member 18, the outer endofwhich projects :rearwardly and forwardly-to engage with the edge dffitheopening 7 in the supporting plate as is shown in Fig. 1 and coacts withthe screw 9 in clampingly securing the handle member to the door. Thebracket is provided with an arm 19 which is secured at 20, desirably byspot welding, to an inset portion 21 in the web of the body member. Thebracket arm 22 is secured at 23,

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preferably by spot welding, to the inward inset portion 24 of the web ofthe handle member.

The bracket member is provided with a slot- 25 through which the latchactuating member 26 is slidably disposed. The inner end of the member 26is slotted at 27 to engage the bight portion 28 of the crank arm 29 ofthe rockshaft 30. This rockshaft is journalled at 31 and 32 in the wallsof the handle member (see Fig. 2) and is provided with a lever-likefinger piece 33 which is disposed on the underside of the handle member.The latch actuating member 26 is provided with shoulders 26' coactingwith the cupped body portion 15 at the ends of the slot 25 therein tolimit the stroke of the latch actuating member. The sheath 13 for thebody member 10 covers the bearing opening in the upper wall of thehandle.

The coiled spring 34 is provided with an arm 35 which is secured insupported engagement with the bracket arm 19 by means of a bolt or rivet36 through the arm 19 and engaged over the end of the arm 35 (see Fig.1). The arm 37 of the spring is engaged with the inner end of theactuating member 26 so that the spring serves to retract the rockshaftand also the member 26. The finger piece 33 is disposed on the undersideof the handle member and is guarded thereby and is in a convenientposition to be operated by the thumb of the hand grasping the handle.This loop-like crank arm serves to hold the inner end of the member 26against lateral movement.

The parts may be produced very economically and they are easilyassembled and not likely to become inoperative in use. In the embodimentillustrated the finishing plates 38 and 39 are disposed between the endsof the handle member and the door panel and they are provided withoutwardly projecting flanges which closely embrace the ends of thehandle member providing an attractive finish therefor.

The edge wall of the door has an opening 40 therein providing access tothe screw 9. This, however, is inaccessible when the door is closed.

I have illustrated and described a highly practical embodiment of myinvention. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe otherembodiments or adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure willenable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as maybe desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A door handle comprising a supporting plate having spaced front andrear openings therein and provided with an inwardly projecting lugadjacent the front opening, a chambered handle member, a bracketprovided with attaching arms disposed Within and secured to said handlemember and having a cupped portion between its arms disposed in thefront opening in said supporting plate, said bracket being slotted toreceive and slidably support a latch actuating member, an attachingscrew carried by said lug and threadedly engaging said bracket, a plateengaging lug projecting from the inner end of said handle member intoengagement with said supporting plate and coacting with said screw inclampingly securing the handle member to the supporting plate, arockshaft journalled in the walls of said handle member and having anoffset loop therein disposed within the handle member and constituting acrank arm, said rockshaft being provided with an integral armconstituting a finger piece disposed-on the underside of said handlemember, a latch actuating member disposed in said handle member toproject through said slot in said bracket and slotted at its inner endto receive said crank arm on said rockshaft, said actuating member beingprovided with shoulders constituting stops coacting with said bracket tolimit the stroke of the actuating member, and a coiled spring havingarms at its ends, one arm being disposed in supported engagement withand secured to an arm of said bracket, the other being engaged with theinner end of said actuating member to yieldingly retract the same, saidhandle member including a sheath covering the bearing opening for theupper end of said rockshaft.

2. A door handle comprising a supporting plate having spaced front andrear openings therein and provided with an inwardly projecting lugadjacent the front opening, a chambered handle member, a bracketprovided with attaching arms disposed within and secured to said handlemember and slotted to receive and slidably support a latch actuatingmember, an attaching screw carried by said lug and threadedly engagingsaid bracket, a plate engaging lug projecting from the inner end of saidhandle member into engagement with said supporting plate and coactingwith said screw in clampingly securing the handle member to thesupporting plate, a rockshaft journalled in the walls of said handlemember and having an otfset loop therein disposed within the handlemember and constituting a crank arm, said rockshaft being provided witha finger piece disposed on the underside of said handle member, a latchactuating member disposed in said handle member to project through saidslot in said bracket and slotted at its inner end to receive said crankarm on said rockshaft, said actuating member being provided with stopscoacting with said bracket to limit the stroke of the actuating member,and a retracting spring for said actuating member.

3. A door handle comprising a supporting plate having spaced front andrear openings therein and provided with an inwardly projecting lugadjacent the front openin a chambered handle member, a bracket providedwith attaching arms disposed within and secured to said handle memberand having a cupped portion between its arms disposed in the frontopening in said supporting plate, said bracket being slotted to receiveand slidably support a latch actuating member, an attaching screwcarried bv said lug and threadedly enga ing said bracket. a supportingplate engaging lug at the inner end of said handle member coacting withsaid screw in securing the handle member to the supporting plate, arockshaft journalled in said handle member and having a crank arm withinsaid handle member, said rockshaft being provided with a finger piece, alatch actuating member slidable through said slot in said bracket andengaged with said crank arm, said actuating member being provided withstops coacting with said bracket to limit the stroke of the actuatingmember, and a coiled spring having arms at its ends, one arm beingengaged with said bracket and the other with the inner actuating memberto yieldingly retract the same.

4. A door handle comprising a supporting plate having spaced front andrear openings therein and provided with an inwardly projecting lugadjacent the front opening. a chambered handle member, a bracketprovided with attaching arms disposed Within and secured to said handlemember and slotted to receive and slidably support a latch actuatingmember, an attaching screw carried by said lug and threadedly engagingsaid bracket, a supporting plate engaging lug at the inner end of saidhandle member coacting with said screw in securing the handle member tothe supporting plate, a rockshaft journalled in said handle member andhaving a crank arm within said handle member, said rockshaft beingprovided with a finger piece, a latch actuating member slidable throughsaid slot in said bracket and engaged with said crank arm, and aretracting spring for said actuating member and rockshaft.

5. A door handle comprising a supporting plate having spaced front andrear openings, a chambered handle member, a bracket disposed within andsecured to said handle member, an attaching screw carried by saidsupporting plate threadedly engaging said bracket, a supporting plateengaging lug at the inner end of said handle member coacting with saidscrew in securing the handle member to the supporting plate, a rockshaftjournalled in said handle member and having a crank arm, said rockshaftbeing provided with a finger piece disposed at one side of said gripmember, a latch actuating member slidably supported by said bracket andengaged with said crank arm. said actuating member being provided withstops coacting with said bracket to limit the stroke of the actuatingmember, and a coiled spring having arms at its ends, one arm beingengaged with said bracket and the other with the inner actuating memberto yieldingly retract the same.

6. A door handle comprising a supporting plate having spaced front andrear openings, a chambered handle member, a bracket disposed within andsecured to said handle member, an attaching screw carried by saidsupporting plate threadedly engaging said bracket, a supporting plateengaging lug at the inner end of said handle member coacting with saidscrew in securing the handle member to the supporting plate, a rockshaft journalled in said handle member and having a crank arm, saidrockshaft being provided with a finger piece disposed at one side ofsaid grip member, a latch actuating member slidably supported by saidbracket and engaged with said crank arm, and a retracting spring forsaid rockshaft and actuating member.

7, A chambered handle member, a bracket provided with attaching armsdisposed within and secured to said handle member and slotted to receivea latch actuating member, a rockshaft journalled in the walls of saidhandle member and having an offset loop therein disposed within thehandle member and constituting a crank arm, said rockshaft beingprovided with an integral arm constituting a finger piece disposed onthe underside of said handle member, a latch actuating member slidablydisposed in said handle member to project through said slot in saidbracket and slotted at its inner end to receive said crank arm on saidrockshaft, said actuating member being provided with shouldersconstituting stops coacting with said bracket to limit the stroke of theactuating member, and a coiled spring having arms at its ends, one armbeing disposed in supported engagement with and secured to an arm ofsaid bracket. the other being engaged with the inner end of saidactuating member to yieldinglv retract the same, said handle memberincluding a sheath covering the bearing opening for the upper end ofsaid rockshaft.

8. A chambered handle member, a bracket provided with attaching armsdisposed within and secured to said hand e member and slotted to receivea latch actuating member, a rockshaft journalled in the walls of saidhandle member and having an offset loop therein disposed within thehandle member and constituting a crank arm, said rockshaft beingprovided with an integral arm constituting a finger piece disposed onthe underside of said handle member, a latch actuating member slidablydisposed in said handle member to project through said slot in saidbracket and slotted at its inner end to receive said crank arm on saidrockshaft, said actuting member being provided with shouldersconstituting stops coacting with said bracket to limit the stroke of theactuating member, and a retracting spring for said rockshaft andactuating member.

9. A chambered handle member, a bracket provided within said handlemember. a rockshaft journalled in said handle member and having a crankarm, said rockshaft being provided with a finger piece disposed on theunderside of said handle member. a latch actuating member slidablydisposed through said bracket and engaged with said crank arm on saidrockshaft, said actuating member being provided with shouldersconstituting stops coacting with said bracket to limit the stroke of theactuating member, and a coiled spring having arms at its ends, one armbeing disposed in supported engagement with and secured to said bracket,the other being engaged with said actuating member to yieldingly retractthe same.

10. A chambered handle member. a bracket provided within said handlemember, a rockshaft journalled in said handle member and having a crankarm, said rockshaft being provided with a finger piece disposed on theunderside of said handle member. a latch actuating member slidablydisposed through said bracket and engaged with said crank arm on saidrockshaft, and a coiled spring having arms at its ends, one arm beingdisposed in supported engagement with and secured to said bracket, theother being engaged with said actuating member to yieldinglv retract thesame.

11. A chambered handle member. a bracket provided within said handlemember, a rockshaft journalled in said handle member and having a crankarm, said rockshaft being provided with a finger piece mounted thereonand disposed on the underside of said handle member and disposedoutwardly of the chamber of the handle member to be engaged by the handof the operator, a latch actuating member slidably disposed through saidbracket and operatively engaged with said crank arm on said rockshaft,and a retracting spring for said rockshaft and actuating member, saidrockshaft and actuating member constituting means to which the spring isconnected for retracting the rockshaft and actuating member, said springbeing mounted in the chamber of the handle and being biased to retractthe rockshaft and actuating member, the actuating member being biased bythe spring inwardly of the chamber.

12. The combination with a chambered handle member constituting a grip,of a rockshaft journalled in said handle member and having an offsetloop therein disposed within the handle member and constituting a crankarm, said rockshaft having an integral arm constituting a finger piecedisposed on the underside of said handle member, a slidably supportedlatch actuating member slotted to engage said crank arm and providedwith shoulders constituting stops limiting the stroke thereof, and aretracting spring for said rockshaft and actuating member.

13. The combination with a chambered handle member constituting a grip,of a rockshaft journalled in said handle member and having a crank armdisposed within the handle member and having a member constituting afinger piece mounted thereon and disposed on the outer side of thechamber of the handle member to be engaged by the hand of the operator,a slidably supported latch actuating member operatively engaged withsaid crank arm, and a retracting spring for said rockshaft and actuatingmember, said rockshaft and actuating member constituting means to whichthe spring is connected for retracting the rockshaft and actuatingmember, said spring being mounted in the chamber of the handle and beingbiased to retract the rockshaft and actuating member, the actuatingmember being biased by the spring inwardly of the chamber.

14. In combination an elongated handle member having an olfset chamberedbase portion at one end thereof, a rockshaft journaled in the baseportion and having a finger piece mounted on one end thereof, saidfinger piece being disposed outwardly of the chamber of the base portionat one side of the base portion to be operatively engaged by the hand ofthe operator, a latch actuating member guidingly supported for movementinwardly and outwardly of the chamber of the base member, and connectedto said rockshaft to be operated thereby, a retracting spring for therockshaft and actuating member, the rockshaft and actuating memberconstituting means to which the spring is connected for retracting therockshaft and actuating member, the spring being mounted in the chamberof the base portion and being biased to retract the rockshaft andactuating member, the actuating member being biased by the springinwardly of the chamber of the base portion, said finger piece beingoperable against the force of the spring for moving the actuating memberoutwardly of the chamber of the base portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,041,803 Kilburn Oct. 22, 1912 2,092,225 Schreiber Sept. 7, 19372,321,724 Aldeen et al June 15, 1943 2,547,459 Green Apr. 3, 19512,606,783 Roethel Aug. 12, 1952

